The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1887-02-25


greeted with mingled applause, laughter and
jeers.
lrhe spectators who filled the galleries to their
utmost capacity, and who listened eagerly to all
that was said the floor, now took part in the
demonstrations OF disapproval and approval, and
though without adding TO the noise and con-
fusion sufficiently to justify the Speaker in or
dering the clearing of the galleries, gave vent to
their feelings until the close of the debate by
frequent applause.
Mr.. Bragg declared that the press of the coun.
try was opposed to the bill Those gentlemen
who sat up aloft pointing to the press gallery
might, some time or other, turn this big pension
boom into much larger boomerang in some
gentleman's district Applause
We have Jared as well in our districts as the
gentleman has in his exclaimed Mr. Henderson,
OF Iowa, and this allusion to Mr.. Braggs failure
to secure n denomination was greeted with loud
and continued laughter on the Republican side
Mr Bragg repeated that the press was opposed
to the bill. the great Republican paper of his
State stood by the President; the great Repub
lican papers of Ohio sustained the President;
the great Republican papers of Pennsylvania
stood side by side with the President the papers
Of New York, almost without distinction of
party, stood by the President; that gallant
soldier, the Governor CT Maine General Cham
berlain, stood by the President
Yes" cried Mr.. Boutelle, land he stands
alone in Maine. [Appause on the Republican
side. speak for Maine" Ulcers of the Dem
ocrats and cries of 'Sorry for Maine."l
Mr. Bragg. continuing said the great soldier,
Palmer of Illinois, stood by the President; Gov.
Cox. of Ohio, stood by the President; old Dan
Sickles, of the Third army corps, said that the
veto was most glorious deed Brave men of
all parties stood by the President 1t was only
the little minds, that went buzzng about like
insects. that opposed him.
Mr. Henderson, of Iowa (contemptuousy)
You stand by the President.
Mr.. Bragg-No staff commissary ever
cite / am speaking for what consider the
soldiers interest The largest Grand Army
L
members of Congress to go against the Presi-
dent 1t is only the class of gentlemen who
hang around the Grand Army posts, vino crowd
themselves in to get So a week, to live upon
hue and cry The soldier prefers to stand by
his record, and asks not that Congress shall
mark him as beggar. He wants to have it
understood that he is, in private life. he was
in the army. soldier fighting for the mainte
nance OF the Union loving his country and not
asking to be supported by it. Why, look at the
effect! The confederate soldiers, without hope,
are toiling day by day aud exhibiting thrift,
industry and energy never expected of them,
while the Northern man, the Independents, the
self reliant, the INDUSTRIOUS the energetic
and the enterprsing, lags behind into
idleness. Why? Because he is wait
ing for his stipend to come from the govern
ment: and when that stipend comes it is spent
quickly, and if he comes from poor house he
iapses back into that position and waits for
another stipend. Humanity only needs to be
encouraged to do nothing We are ali liable to
diop into do-nothing policy II we get
somebody to support us, and it is not good public
policy for us to legislate to encourage vagabond-
ism, whether among our soldiers OF citizens.
Mr.. Steele, OF Indiana-How about the Next
can pension bill?
Mr. Bragg have said that wished the Pres
ident had vetoed it. It is lntimated that the bill
passed because it benefits confederates. l ask
any one of you bigoted you may be- if you did
not get some of the pork. You all voted for the
hay arod hot 10
monstrositv.
Mr.. Morrison, of Illinois, voted for this BILL
/ am satisfied that it does not contain what Its
friends claim for it, and that it is fairly subject
to the objections urged against it in the veto.
Besides, the veto is so far above the high-water
mark of ordinary executive independence and
official manhood that feel like sharing and TAX
lQg my little part Of the responsibility. lap
plause on the Democratic side
Mr. Mckinley, of Ohio, said that if he be-
lieved that the benefciaries of the bill were
.scoundrels and vagabouds. he would not vote for
It's passage over the veto OF the President, but
he did not believe, with the gentleman from
Wisconsin Mr. Braggl, that the benefciarics
were either shirks vagabonds, good-for-
nothing scoundrels. He believed that there
were thousands scattered over the country who
fought as bravely as the gentleman from Wis
consin though they were not here to tell OF
their deeds Of courage and glory loud laughter
and applause on the Republican sldel though
they never rode down the line amid the huzzas
of their comrades. These men generally did
their fighting on foot This bill was justified by
presidents, over and over again, in 1918, 1920
and $780, and in acts passed by both houses,
. which received the approval of General Jackson,
John Quincy Adams and James Madison. And
he wanted to read against Andrew jackson
Warner what the first Andrew Jackson said: ~
would suggest review of the pension law for
the purpose of extending its benefits to every
revolutionary soldier who aided in the estab-
iishment of tie government" That was the
DamncraPV
present had decided upon another line of battle.
Applause on Republican side.
Mr.. Hepburn, of Iowa, commented on the fact
that every gentleman who had spoken in oppos.
ton to the hill save one. had voted for it orig-
nally. There must be some reason for this "A
large number Of them, like himself, would ter
inmate their official lives on the 4th of March,
and large number OF them, unlike himself
we're now about the White House, "crookine the
pregnant hinges of the knee that thrift may fol-
low fawning." Loud cheers and laughter on
Republican side. II deny the right" he con-
tinued, "of the gentleman from Ohio Mr.. War
nerl and the gentleman from Wisconsin Mr.
Bragg to speak for the Grand Army of this
country / tell you that while these gentlemen
once did occupy honorable places in the Grand
Army md were everywhere received, yet they
are looked upon to-day. when they rise in their
places, and denounce their old comrades vag-
abonds, and scamps, and the scum Of humanity,
as Benedict Arnold was. Renewed cheers and
applause on Republican side There was time
when Benedict Arnold RODE along tne llne anu
when he met with the acclaim of brave soldiery
everywhere. Yes. there was another period in
his life when he held an interview with an
American on English soil, ne NOT daring to come
on American soil He asked what his old com
rades those who had worn the uniform of the
Continentals in the dark days OF tine
Revolution, thought of him; what would thev
do with him if they should meet hml The re
ply was: 'They would cut off your leg that was
wounded at Saratoga and bury it with the hon
they
would hang on the gibbett." Applause on Re
publican side. Look at the petitions from pos
after post upon your desks. In the light of al
those. and the telegram from the grand com
mander of the Grand Army of the United States
General Fairchild. who tells us that this is tn,
bill. in its subs .ance. that the Grand Army ha